Hi, I’m Tito. I’ve been a wine judge, a field service engineer, and a patient fighting for his life — sometimes all at the same time.
I was diagnosed with kidney disease in my twenties, after a lkidney stone and a routine checkup led to a diagnosis I never expected: IgA nephropathy. It slowly wrecked my kidneys until I needed dialysis to stay alive. I’ve since gone through more than 300 dialysis treatments, two kidney transplants, and eight surgeries. One transplant was from a living donor — my uncle. It worked for six weeks. The second came from a deceased donor. It’s still working, and I’m doing everything I can to protect it.
Before all of this, I was traveling over 50 times a year for work, competing in ballroom dance, and making wine that won national awards. I still do some of that when I can — but now, most of my time is focused on recovery, resilience, and helping others through what I’ve already been through.
This site is my way of paying it forward. Whether you’re living with kidney disease, supporting someone who is, or just curious about becoming a donor — I hope something here helps you feel a little less overwhelmed and a little more equipped.
If you want to know what it’s really like to live through this, I’ve written about it honestly — the good, the painful, and the absurd. My book Tito Needs a Kidney is available now, and I’m building out tools and resources to make this road easier for others.
Thanks for being here. You're already making a difference.